KATHMANDU, April 12: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Dhaka Kumar Shrestha's position of member of parliament (MP) is in jeopardy after the audio (audio material) of his alleged 'deal' of Rs 20 million with medical practitioner Durga Prasai came out to the public.
Soon after the audio was released through the media on Sunday, the RSP issued a statement and instructed Shrestha not to do any work as an MP and as an ordinary member of the party. Similarly, the RSP Central Discipline and Conduct Committee also instructed Shrestha to submit an explanation within 24 hours.
Leader Shrestha submitted an explanation letter to the Discipline and Conduct Committee on Monday. In the explanation, he has claimed that the voice in the audio is not his, the source says. The same thing is also mentioned in the statement issued by Shrestha's secretariat on Monday.
After Shrestha gave an explanation, the Central Discipline and Conduct Committee prepared its report and submitted it to the Central Committee on Tuesday. “He (Dhakakumar Shrestha) gave an explanation after 24 hours. Even though it was a little late, we took his explanation," said Bharat Mani Devkota, coordinator of the Discipline and Conduct Committee.
RSP seeks explanation from General Secretary Dhakal
"We also took a statement from him on Tuesday. According to the instructions of the party, we took explanations and statements, we also understood the truth. After understanding everything, we have prepared a report and submitted it to the Central Committee,” added Devkota.
Coordinator Devkota did not want to disclose the facts found by the committee. “Based on what we have seen, we have recommended the same to the central committee with the report. We cannot say now what we recommended. If the party takes a different decision than what we recommend, it will be disputed. So let's not say anything now," said Devkota.
Devkota said that the central committee will probably take the necessary decision about Shrestha on Wednesday. He said, "Our chairman (Rabi Lamichhane) has openly said that we will take necessary steps within 72 hours. Therefore, you will know the decision on Wednesday itself,” he further said.
Devkota is the coordinator of RSP Discipline and Conduct Committee which has four members. Ramhari Subedi, Ramakant Rimal and Yagyamani Neupane are members of the committee.
Prasain releases another audio
Prasai has said that he released the audio with RSP leader Shrestha through the media. He said that the audio is 100 percent true. Prasain has been claiming that the audio of RSP MP Shrestha asking him for Rs 20 million is true.
Prasain claimed that the audio was from the first week of January. Prasain said that he had the conversation with Shrestha through WhatsApp. He claims that he released the audio to reveal the corrupt character of the new party.
Meanwhile, another audio of leader Shrestha's conversation has also come out in the public. Another audio was also brought out by Prasai. Prasai claims that he provided the said audio to the media.
In another audio released by the media, MP Shrestha can be heard talking to Yadu Gautam of Prasain's team. In which Shrestha is expecting Prasai to speak in his defense.
Similarly, in another audio, a person who claimed himself to be leader Shrestha's brother is heard speaking to Prasain. The man informs Prasain that the party will take action against his brother and he will lose the post of MP.
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